Sir Thomas Frederick Elliot, the son of Hugh Elliot, Diplomatist, spent his entire career either in or attached to the Colonial Office. In the 1830's he was in Canada for some years and his memoranda and correspondence for the period are of great interest. He was also involved in the organisation of the penal colonies, in emigration, and in the running of the Colonial Office itself.

Many of the manuscripts contain notes, indexes, etc., by George Neilson.

Includes notes and observations on contemporary Enlightenment figures.

Sir Charles Dalrymple Fergusson (1800-1849), was the eldest son of Sir James Fergusson, 4th Baronet of Kilkerran, and Jean, second daughter of Lord Hailes. He inherited Newhailes in 1838 on the death of his aunt, Christian Dalrymple, when he assumed the additional surname of Dalrymple. Sir Charles was admitted Advocate in 1822, and in 1829 married Helen, daughter of David Boyle of Shewalton, Lord President of the Court of Session.

Born in Cults, Dr Anna ('Nan') Shepherd was educated in Aberdeen and became a lecturer in English at Aberdeen College of Education. She wrote poems in Scots and English and three novels as well as articles for magazines and journals.

Emma, Lady Hislop was the daughter of Hugh Elliot, Diplomatist.

Sir Charles Dalrymple Fergusson (1800-1849), was the eldest son of Sir James Fergusson, 4th Baronet of Kilkerran, and Jean, second daughter of Lord Hailes. He inherited Newhailes in 1838 on the death of his aunt, Christian Dalrymple, when he assumed the additional surname of Dalrymple. Sir Charles was admitted Advocate in 1822, and in 1829 married Helen, daughter of David Boyle of Shewalton, Lord President of the Court of Session.

Two commonplace books of Lady Caroline Lamb. The first, the 'green book', contains poems, literary passages, sketches, watercolours, and translations from Greek, among other entries. The second, the 'blue book’, is addressed to Lord Byron, with whom Lamb had a disastrous affair in 1812. She compiled the 'blue book' as a commemoration of their affair and it contains letters to the poet, as well poems, prose passages and watercolours.

The two commonplace books were compiled by Sara Austen in the 19th century. The first contains reflections upon religious beliefs. The second consists of prose and verse.

William Soutar's output of work, most of it produced during the last thirteen bed-ridden years of his life, is quite remarkable. Apart from his regular and lively correspondence, and his poetry both in English and in Scots, he left a long sequence of diaries and journals, as well as a record of his dreams extending over more than twenty years.

MSS.16468-16471 include notes and other writings of John Gray. MSS.16472-16478 are notebooks containing lecture notes and other writings by other, unrelated, students at Edinburgh University. These latter, which were part of the Gray library, may have been previously in Gray's possession.

William Soutar's output of work, most of it produced during the last thirteen bed-ridden years of his life, is quite remarkable. Apart from his regular and lively correspondence, and his poetry both in English and in Scots, he left a long sequence of diaries and journals, as well as a record of his dreams extending over more than twenty years.

There is also some correspondence of the Seaforth family, Henry's son, Joshua Henry, having married Helen, daughter of Lord Seaforth.

Diaries, letter books and commonplace book, 1835-1884, of Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Malcolm (1782-1851) his sons, Rear Admiral George John Malcolm (1830-1884), and Pulteney Malcolm (1831-1852) of the Bengal Civil Service, and of George John Malcolm's wives, Ottonie von Dungern (1841-1866) and Sophie von Brockdorff (1846-1927).